KCR rewards Kaushik Reddy with MLC seat

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KCR rewards Kaushik Reddy with MLC seat

The Telangana cabinet on Sunday decided to nominate P. Kaushik Reddy to the state Legislative Council, barely 10 days after he joined the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The Cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, decided to recommend to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan to nominate Kaushik Reddy to the upper house of the state legislature.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the relevant file has been sent to Raj Bhavan for approval.

Kaushik Reddy had joined the TRS on July 21, a week after he was expelled by Congress party for anti-party activities.

He was a state Congress Secretary and party incharge for Huzurabad constituency.

The Congress leadership had on July 12 issued a show cause notice to him after an audio surfaced in which he claimed that he will contest the by-election to Huzurabad Assembly constituency on the TRS ticket.

An audio of telephonic conversation between Kaushik Reddy and a TRS worker went viral. Claiming that he will be the TRS candidate in Huzurabad, he asked the TRS worker to mobilise party workers who can work for him and offered them money.

The audio had surfaced a few days after Kaushik Reddy’s meeting with TRS Working President and state minister K. T. Rama Rao at a function.

Hours after he was issued show cause notice for indulging in anti-party activities, Kaushik Reddy announced resignation from the primary membership of the party. The state Congress leadership, however, announced that it expelled Reddy from the party.

Kaushik Reddy, a former cricketer, had unsuccessfully contested as Congress candidate from Huzurabad in the 2018 Assembly elections.

The Assembly seat fell vacant following resignation of former minister E. Rajender, who recently quit the TRS to join the BJP.

The by-election is likely to be conducted soon.

Not concerned with TN BJP chief’s fast over Mekedatu: Bommai

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Not concerned with TN BJP chief’s fast over Mekedatu: Bommai

Reacting on Tamil Nadu state BJP state President K. Annamalai’s announcement of fasting opposing the implementation of Mekedatu project, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday that he is not concerned about it.

“I am only concerned over implementation of the Mekedatu project. Annamalai is fasting or not, it is none of my concern. We have rights over the water. Our share has been allocated. We have already prepared a detailed project report on Mekedatu. After getting approvals, we will surely begin the Mekedatu project. There is no question of second thought on that, no matter who sits on fasting,” Bommai stated.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai, a former IPS officer, who attained star status while working as an IPS officer in Karnataka announced that he will sit on hunger strike opposing Karnataka government’s plans to start work of Mekedatu project on August 5.

Meanwhile, various organizations who commended K. Annamalai’s work in Karnataka as a senior police officer and took to streets whenever he was transferred, have now called for protest against him over his statement on the Mekedatu project.

Odisha CM writes to Mandaviya on short supply of fertilizers

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Odisha CM writes to Mandaviya on short supply of fertilizers

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to Union chemicals and fertilizers minister Mansukh Mandaviya over short supply of fertilisers to the State.

Patnaik thanked the minister for the allocation of fertilizers in the monthly movement supply plans as per the requirement of the State and supply during the month of April. However, during the month of May, June & July there has been severe short supply of different fertilizers, he said.

During the current Kharif season, till date, the State has received only 1,45,145 MT of urea against the allocation of 2,31,530 MT and agreed supply plan of 2,10,000 MT.

Similarly, during the period, the State has received 97,763 MT of DAP against the allocation of 1,52,000 MT and agreed supply plan of 1,45,000 MT, the chief minister stated.

In his letter, Patnaik further mentioned that 42,867 MT of MOP and 1,05,798 MT of NPKS has been supplied against the allocation of 67,200 MT and 1,68,400 and agreed supply plan of 60,000 MT and 1,42,000 MT, respectively.

Overall the supply of urea has been 62 per cent against the allocation and 69 per cent against the agreed supply plan. For other fertilisers, the supply amount stands in between 60 per cent and 74 per cent, he further said.

“The farmers in the State have suffered severe crop loss due to recent YAAS and several cyclonic storms during the previous years. Therefore to optimize their production the supply of the most critical input i.e. fertilizer should be as per requirement,” he wrote to Mandaviya.

As mid-July to September is the peak consumption period for urea and July to August is the peak period of demand for all other fertilisers, Patnaik said the short supply of fertilisers to the State at this juncture will adversely affect the agricultural production in the State and unnecessarily invite law and order situation in most of the districts.

He sought personal intervention of the Union minister for supply of fertilizers as per the monthly agreed supply plan including the backlog of the previous months.

BJP shouldn’t listen to everything Yediyurappa says: BJP leader

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BJP shouldn’t listen to everything Yediyurappa says: BJP leader

Senior Karnataka BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for pungent remarks on B.S. Yediyurappa, on Friday said that the party doesn’t need to listen to everything that the former Chief Minister says.

The five-time MLA and former Union Minister hinted that the party will take its own decisions in connection with cabinet formation.

“Party will not take diktats from Yediyurappa. The party didn’t need to bring him down if it would have listened to all that he said,” he said.

Yatnal maintained that Yediyurappa was determined to see to it that he did not get the plum post.

Training his guns on Lingayat seers who supported Yediyurappa, he claimed that they reduced themselves to ‘chelas’ (disciples) of Yediyurappa, and asked them to “focus on issues like love jihad and gohatya (cow slaughter)”.

He warned that if the inexperienced are given power in the government, the party will pay a heavy price.

Former Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s daughter bats for JD-S

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Former Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s daughter bats for JD-S

Late veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar’s daughter Vijeta Ananthkumar created a buzz on Thursday by putting out a tweet supporting the opposition Janata Dal-Secular.

“Why Karnataka politics is really interesting? JDS is still a very strong political force,” she tweeted.

The comment has surprised many in state political circles.

Ananth Kumar was always known for following party principles and never issued any statement against the party in his entire career. However, the party did not field his wife Tejaswini Ananth Kumar from Bengaluru South constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in spite of the state unit recommending her name.

The party, instead, chose young turk Tejasvi Surya and he went on to register a thumping victory sealing the political fortunes of Tejaswini Ananth Kumar. Though she was found attending BJP party functions, it was evident that the party had moved on from her.

Sources say that the tweet by daughter Vijeta is just a reflection of anger at her family being sidelined by the state as well as central BJP units after the demise of Ananth Kumar.

Meanwhile, JD-S state chief and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy welcomed Vijeta’s statement of appreciation for his party.

“I thank Vijeta for issuing such a statement to the party in this situation. It has energised the spirits of party workers. Any development can take place in politics. If Tejashwini Ananthkumar wants to join JD-S, she is welcome,” he said.

Jagan misusing SC, ST Atrocities Act, alleges TDP

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Jagan misusing SC, ST Atrocities Act, alleges TDP

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former minister Nakka Anand Babu on Thursday advised Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government to refrain from alleged rampant misuse of the SC, ST Atrocities Act for political vendetta.

He claimed that the government is using this legal provision to suppress the principal opposition party and all the dissenting voices in the state.

“Jagan regime was indeed hatching a conspiracy to get the atrocities law revoked at the national level. Already, the Supreme Court received petitions about the political misuse of this law by the ruling Governments across the country,” said Babu.

The TDP leader asserted that the Supreme Court could take a serious view of the alleged ongoing indiscriminate misuse of the SC/ST law.

He questioned whether the government was making a mockery of the SC/ST law by applying it on former minister and TDP leader Devineni Uma Maheshwar Rao.

“CM was not just getting cases filed against the political opponents but he was also getting them jailed,” he alleged.

According to Babu, Reddy ‘opened a dark chapter in the history of the country’ by allegedly getting SC, ST atrocities cases filed against Dalit victims as well.

He demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister as to why he was allegedly misusing the laws created to safeguard Dalits for political and personal victimization.

“The atrocities law was brought in to ensure prevention of atrocities against Dalits. The CM has been openly misusing this law. The Dalit officers were being used to perpetrate political harassment,” he alleged.

He claimed that Reddy came to power with Dalit votes but he was allegedly using them to create chaos in the state.

Babu noted that Dalits were facing unprecedented attacks and victimization ever since Reddy came to power.

“For just opposing sand mafia activities, Dalit youth Vara Prasad was tonsured and humiliated in East Godavari. SC, ST cases were filed against Dalit farmers in Amaravati and they were sent to jail for 20 days. They were handcuffed by the AP police,” he alleged.

Babu made these remarks in the light of the police arresting Rao for allegedly attacking YSRCP leaders.

Railways conducts drone mapping of Ghat area in Karnataka

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Railways conducts drone mapping of Ghat area in Karnataka

The South Western Railway (SWR) zone conducted an aerial survey of Castle Rock-Kulem Ghat section using a drone camera in Karnataka’s Uttar Kannada district, an official said on Wednesday.

“The drone mapping of vulnerable locations in Castle Rock-Kulem Ghat section helps in taking preventive steps against landslides and water logging on the tracks,” a SWR spokesman said in a statement.

The 27 km Ghat section on the Karnataka-Goa border is part of the rich bio-diverse Western Ghats, which receives heavy rainfall during the south-west monsoon from June-September every year.

Castle Rock in the state’s northwest region is located in a heavily forested area, where vegetation is most tropical deciduous.

The Ghat section has only a single railway line with no road connectivity.

“Steps have been taken to safeguard the tracks in the Ghat section, which is prone to land slips and water-logging. Embankment walls, sandbags and shoring up of side walls with sleepers have been put in place,” said the official.

As additional safety measure, drone camera was used to record video of spots of water logging on hill-top, weak spots and loose boulders.

“If any weak spot is noticed, a team of engineers, technicians and trackmen takes remedial action to prevent damage or blocking of the railway track,” added the statement.

Sandbags, ballast, boulders, tools and equipment in monsoon wagons are kept ready at Castle Rock, Kulem and Tinaighat to attend to emergencies in the Ghat section.

Indo-US partnership will be of even greater significance in coming years: PM Modi

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Indo-US partnership will be of even greater significance in coming years: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the India-US Strategic Partnership will be of even greater global significance in the coming years, in the context of the challenges posed by Covid-19, global economic recovery and climate change.

Modi made these remarks in a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken conveyed greetings of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to the Prime Minister.

He briefed the Prime Minister on his fruitful exchanges with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishakar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval earlier in the day and expressed strong commitment to further deepen India-US strategic relations in various sectors including defence, maritime security, trade & investment, climate change, and science & technology.

The Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Biden and Vice President Harris and his appreciation for the initiatives taken by President Biden including those related to the Quad, Covid-19 and climate change.

Blinken appreciated the increasing convergence between India and US on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, and the commitment of both strategic partners to convert this convergence into concrete and practical cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi said that the societies of US and India share a deep commitment to the values of democracy, freedom and liberty, and the Indian diaspora in the US has contributed immensely to the enhancement of bilateral ties.

Punjab CM asks Modi to reopen Kartarpur Corridor

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Punjab CM asks Modi to reopen Kartarpur Corridor

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor, in view of the improvement in the Covid-19 situation, to facilitate people’s visit to the historic shrine in Pakistan.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Amarinder Singh said his government would be happy to work in conjunction with the Centre to ensure adherence to proper Covid-19 protocols, including testing and vaccination of pilgrims using the corridor.

He hoped for a positive consideration by the Prime Minister in this regard.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the movement of devotees to Kartarpur through the corridor was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic outbreak.

“The Covid-19 situation in Punjab has shown signs of significant improvement in the past one month and I am happy to share that yesterday, no Covid-19 related death was reported, after almost a period of one year,” he wrote.

He said in the changed scenario, the people have obviously again evinced their desire to have ‘darshan’ at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.

The Chief Minister further said that “we have been fortunate that the Kartarpur Corridor was opened on the auspicious occasion of the 550th Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019”.

It helped fulfill the long-standing demand of “khulle darshan deedar” of the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, located just across the international border in Pakistan, he added.

AP govt acting vengefully against Devineni Uma: TDP

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AP govt acting vengefully against Devineni Uma: TDP

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national general secretary Nara Lokesh on Wednesday alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government is allegedly acting in a vengeful way against former minister Devineni Uma Maheshwara Rao because he is exposing corruption.

“Just because Uma is exposing corruption, the ruling party is vengeful against him. What happened to the police when some rowdies attacked the former minister?” alleged Lokesh.

He questioned whom the law is favouring and demanded to know if people will be killed if they question?

“Is this democracy?…The DGP has to answer,” he said.

According to the TDP’s second in command, Rao was targeted because he questioned the alleged illegal mining in Kondapalli forest worth thousands of crores of rupees by YSRCP leader Vasanta Krishna Mohan.

Lokesh alleged that Rao is being targeted at the behest of government adviser Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy.

The TDP general secretary claimed that police did not arrest the people who allegedly attacked Rao under IPC sections.

If this was the case with a former minister, he wondered what would happen to common people and warned the police that they meet the fate of their boss living in Tadepalli.

Lokesh said it will take only a little time but the culprits will stand before the law soon.

Police arrested Rao and shifted him to Nandiwada for allegedly perpetrating an attack on ruling party leaders.

Bommai rains sops in first cabinet meet

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Bommai rains sops in first cabinet meet

Basavaraj Bommai, the new Chief Minister of Karnataka announced a slew of measures to reach out to people including a scholarship programme for children of agriculturists, on Wednesday at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. He also underlined that vaccination to face third Covid wave would be his priority.

Bommai, after holding a cabinet meeting, announced that a scholarship scheme for children of agriculturists has been introduced in the state as per his vision. “It’s going to help students from agrarian families to pursue higher education,” he stated.

Bommai himself chaired the meeting with the Chief Secretary and other top government officers as the full fledged cabinet is yet to be formed.

The scheme will be drafted in consultation with experts and implemented soon for the first time in the state, he added.

Under Sandhya Surakha Yojana, 35.98 lakh beneficiaries got Rs 1,000 so far, will get Rs 1,200. This will increase the burden on the exchequer by Rs 862 crore.

The amount under the Widow pension scheme has been increased by Rs 200 and physically challenged persons are going to get Rs 200 more.

These measures have been taken considering inflation. The section of the society which needs social security will be reached out by our government, he underlined.

He further explained that he had given orientation for the bureaucrats in the first meeting. “I have stressed inter-departmental coordination, teamwork and time-bound implementation of schemes to avoid extra expenditure and corruption,” he stated.

He has said that the “chalta hai” attitude from the government officials will not be tolerated.

“I have especially spoken with the Chief Secretary on ‘file clearance drive’, wherein information of movement of all files in government departments will be obtained in two days and should be disposed of in about 15 days,” he explained.

Bommai said directions are given to cut down on unnecessary expenditures by a minimum of 5 per cent without affecting programmes as the Covid situation affected the economy.

All NE state capitals to be linked by air, rail by 2023-24: Amit Shah

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All NE state capitals to be linked by air, rail by 2023-24: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Saturday that the northeastern region would be the countrys growth destination and all the state capitals of the eight states of the region would be connected by air and railway network by 2023-24.

On Day 1 of his two-day visit to Meghalaya, Shah inaugurated several projects, including the inter-state bus terminus at Mawiong in Shillong. Funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC), the ISBT was built at a cost of Rs 48.31 crore.

The Home Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier announced that before 2022, all the capital cities of the eight northeastern states would be connected by air and railway network.

“But due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the works have got slightly delayed though the projects are on the pipelines. By 2023-24, all the state capitals of the eight states of the region would be linked by air and railway network, though some of the state capitals are already connected,” the Home Minister said.

Shah said that improving connectivity of the northeastern states is the top priority of the Modi government, as without connectivity, development would not be possible.

“The works are being carried out with utmost priority to develop and further expand the road, rail, air and waterways networks of all the northeastern states to connect them with the rest of the country,” he said.

Shah also said that the Central government led by Prime Minister Modi has done a lot of development and welfare works in all the sectors for the all-round development of the region and economic prosperity of the people of the eight states.

The Home Minister said that the Central government has three important focus points for the region — protection and development of the region’s culture and tradition; resolving internal disputes among the northeastern states; and making the region a development hub and a destination of growth for India.

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), in collaboration with all the northeastern states, would take all steps to achieve the desired purposes, Shah said.

The Home Minister also chaired a review meeting of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) at Umiam, 20 km from Shillong.

He said that NESAC has been playing a key role in stimulating the overall growth of the northeastern region by using space science and technology.

He applauded the efforts and dedication of ‘Team NESAC’ and assured that the Centre is committed to providing advanced technology support to the region, which can transform the lives of the people of the northeastern states.

“Mapping of forest gap areas, expansion of land area for horticulture development, identification and rejuvenation of wetlands, diversion of floodwater and assessment of bamboo resources for livelihood needs are a few key ideas that were discussed during the meeting,” Shah said in a tweet after the NESAC meeting.

The NESAC, which is a joint venture between the Department of Space and the North Eastern Council, a regional planning body, helps and guides the northeastern states in undertaking various development projects and schemes, including estimating natural resources.

Set up in September 2000, it is well equipped with state-of-the-art facilities in the areas of remote sensing and geographical information system, disaster management, satellite communication and space and atmospheric science research.

The Chief Ministers of all the eight northeastern states, DoNER Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Sivan also attended the NESAC review meeting.

Shah also inaugurated a cryogenic oxygen plant at Umsawli, an afforestation project at Wahshari in Sohra, the Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme at Khliehshnong, besides visiting the headquarters of Assam Rifles in Shillong.

BJP high command mulls final list in K’taka, but it’s a tough call

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BJP high command mulls final list in K’taka, but it’s a tough call

As the stage is being set for a possible change of guard in Karnataka, the BJP high command is yet to finalise the successor of chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa. However, the high command is mulling over three candidates from the final list prepared in consultation with the RSS unit of Karnataka Pranth (region).

The final list included the names of Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Coal Pralhad Joshi, National General Secretary C.T. Ravi, MLA and former union minister Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal, the Speaker of Legislative Assembly Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, Minister for Mining Murugesh Nirani and MLA Aravind Bellad, sources said. The name of National Organising Secretary B.L. Santhosh is also doing the rounds, they added.

The high command is thinking of various possibilities in Karnataka as it is being hailed as the gateway to South India. This include caste, region, loyalty to Hindutva principles, ability to take the party out from the shadow of Yediyurappa, etc.

The party is also focusing on winning the next assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2023. The strategy is said to be to install a candidate in the form of a chief minister, who could cut through caste politics and bring all castes under the Hindutva umbrella.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has been a party president in Karnataka and is credited to enrol as many as 1 crore members for BJP in the state. His participation in ‘Save Kashmir movement’ and ‘Flag hoisting movement in Edgah Maidan of Hubli’ is an added advantage. The caste factor, however, seems to put him on the negative side.

The party is also keen on C.T. Ravi, a former minister, who was snubbed by Yediyurappa and is now elevated to the higher ranks by the party. If the high command decides to give leadership to a candidate from other than the Lingayat community, he stands a better chance, say party insiders.

Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for his fiery speeches, is a Lingayat from north Karnataka. The party thinks he could be the person to sideline Yediyurappa by taking independent pro-party decisions. However, the party will have to take a chance with his temperament, sources say.

Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, a senior leader is among the most loyal party men in the state. His clean image might help him to get the CM’s post.

Though the name of Murugesh Nirani, a Lingayat is also doing the rounds, the high command is said to be considering corruption charges and court cases against him before taking a call.

The names of BJP Lingayat MLA Aravind Bellad, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, National Organising Secretary B.L. Santhosh are also being considered for the post, as per the party sources. However, it is said that Santhosh, considered as the bete-noire of Yediyurappa in state political circles, is said to be vouching for candidates who carry aggressive Hindutva in the state.

However, the party is also expected to spring a surprise by announcing a new face as the BJP top leadership has experimented in other states.

Punjab crisis has been resolved: Rahul

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Punjab crisis has been resolved: Rahul

Days after the Congress appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party’s Punjab chief, Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the crisis has been resolved.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said, “Punjab crisis has been resolved.”

His remarks came a day after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that he shall attend the ceremony of the new state Congress team taking charge led by Sidhu.

Earlier, the camp of the Chief Minister was adamant on its demand that Sidhu should first apologise publicly over his purported remarks against the government over the power crisis and the sacrilege issue and then only Amarinder Singh would meet him.

In a first show of solidarity and strength, Sidhu, accompanying 62 legislators, comprising four Cabinet ministers, on Wednesday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

However, the Chief Minister and his close confidants were absent from Sidhu’s maiden visit to his constituency Amritsar (East) and religious places there.

That was Sidhu’s first visit to Amritsar after being appointed to the post by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on July 18, ending days of hectic lobbying within the Congress in Punjab.

KCR directs ministers, officials to stay alert amid heavy rains

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KCR directs ministers, officials to stay alert amid heavy rains

Amid heavy rainfall in Telangana and massive inflows from upper riparian states into Godavari and Krishna rivers, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday instructed ministers and MLAs to remain in their districts to monitor the flood situation from time to time.

Due to heavy inflows from the catchment areas, projects’ gates have been lifted in the upper riparian states, leading to waters reaching into Telangana.

Rao issued his directions to legislators especially in the constituencies through which these rivers flow.

Likewise, he also directed Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders and cadres to be available at the Telangana Bhavan to monitor the situation.

“Along with officials in the catchments areas, TRS leadership from gram sarpanch to the ministers should ensure that people are not put to any hardship,” said the Chief Minister.

As heavy rain forecast is there for the next two days, Rao suggested people not to venture out and exercise caution.

The CM urged public representatives to be on high alert and take necessary measures.

Rao highlighted that the intensity of flood is increasing in the Godavari catchment areas due to heavy rains in the upper reaches of SRSP.

He instructed Minister Vemula Prasanth Reddy to monitor preventive measures at Balkonda Assembly segment and Nizamabad district where heavy rains are being witnessed.

Similarly, Rao directed chief secretary Somesh Kumar to depute NDRF teams to Nirmal town which is submerged in water.

District collectors, superintendents of police, revenue officials and R&B officers have been directed to undertake preventive measures in the Godavari catchment areas.

The CM urged people to watch out for swollen lakes and rivulets which are overflowing and breaching due to heavy rains.

Andhra Guv, CM extend Bakrid greetings

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Andhra Guv, CM extend Bakrid greetings

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday extended Eid-al-Adha greetings to the people in the state.

“On the solemn occasion of Bakrid (Id-ul-Azha), I extend my cordial greetings and good wishes to all my Muslim brethren in Andhra Pradesh,” said Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

Bakrid holds immense significance in the Islamic faith and is celebrated with special prayers and great reverence, he added.

“Bakrid symbolizes sacrifice, absolute devotion to God and compassion for the poor and emphasises the principle of sharing,” said Harichandan.

As people celebrate Bakrid, the Governor wished for the spirit of charity and goodwill towards all be cherished and nourished.

However, Harichandan cautioned the people celebrating the festival to be wary of Covid-19 pandemic and advised them to strictly follow Covid protocols.

“I appeal to the people of Andhra Pradesh to strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour by wearing masks and maintain social distance at all times and cooperate with the authorities to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he added.

Likewise, the Andhra Chief Minister said Bakrid is a symbol of faith, grace and unity.

“My greetings to Muslims who celebrate Bakrid meditating upon the sacrifice of holy prophet Ibrahim,” Reddy added.

The CM prayed for the blessings of Allah on all of us at all times.

However, inclement weather and coronavirus have proved to be the dampener this Bakrid.

Actor, BJP leader Khushbu Sundar’s Twitter account hacked

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Actor, BJP leader Khushbu Sundar’s Twitter account hacked

Noted actor and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar has complained to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Sylendra Babu as her official Twitter account was hacked.

She said that the account was found hacked since Tuesday morning and the name on the account was changed to “briann”. The actor also said that except for the photos and videos all her tweets were deleted.

The actor also said that she was not able to access her account for the past three days and that tweets were also found missing.

Khushbu told media persons that after her Twitter handle was inaccessible she had filed an online complaint and had met the DGP at his office on Tuesday and filed a complaint.

The actor said that the DGP has promised to take action on her complaint and added that some miscreants were trying to tarnish her image in politics.

Punjab CM seeks 40 lakh vaccine doses on priority

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Punjab CM seeks 40 lakh vaccine doses on priority

Citing a current demand of more than two lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses for the second dose alone, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday demanded 40 lakh more doses from the Centre on an urgent basis to inoculate the state’s eligible population.

The state was expecting 2.46 lakh vaccines to arrive on Tuesday but the Chief Minister, during a Covid review virtual meeting, noted that vaccines remain in short supply, having run out of Covishield vaccine and left with a mere 3,500 Covaxin doses as of Monday.

Punjab has already vaccinated more than 90 lakh eligible people (nearly 37 per cent of eligible population) and has been utilising the stock without any wastage, said the Chief Minister.

While the first dose has been administered to 75 lakh people, 15 lakh had got the second dose too.

The Centre needs to arrange for immediate delivery to the state to meet the shortfall and enable inoculation of all those needing the second dose, while continuing with the vaccination of other eligible persons, said the Chief Minister.

Pointing out that the doses being supplied to private hospitals were getting wasted as people preferred to go to government hospitals for free inoculation, Health Secretary Hussan Lal informed the meeting the state has sought diversion of the stocks from the private hospitals but had not received any response so far from the Centre.

Some can’t digest Dalits, women, SC/ST as ministers: PM Modi

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Some can’t digest Dalits, women, SC/ST as ministers: PM Modi

Due to the ruckus created by opposition parties in both houses of parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not introduce his recently inducted Council of Ministers on Monday but he launched scathing attack on opposition memmbers and alleged that some people can’t digest Dalits, Women, SC/ST and OBC made ministers.

“I thought that there would be enthusiasm in the Parliament as so many women, Dalits, tribals have become Ministers. This time our colleagues from agricultural and rural background, OBC community, have been given a berth in Council of Ministers,” the Prime Minister said while he introduced his new Ministers in the lower House.

Taking congnisance of huge pandemonium created by the Opposition on different issues, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House for the day.

The parliamentarians from Congress, Trinamool Congress were among other Opposition leaders who started sloganeering against the government and trooped near the Speaker’s podium after the Prime Minister started introducing his ministers.

Earlier, Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of the House Rajnath Singh raised an objection against the Opposition uproar while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was introducing his Council of Ministers in the House. However, Lok Sabha had to be adjourned till 2 p.m. amid continuous uproar.

Several Trinamool Congress MPs cycled to Parliament on Monday to protest against the rise in prices of fuel and other commodities before the House assembled at 11 a.m.

Yogi to remain boss in UP as party gears up for assembly polls

TB Team
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Yogi to remain boss in UP as party gears up for assembly polls

Words of appreciation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief J.P. Nadda have not only silenced the critics of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, but it also shows that he will be the choice of party leadership to lead in the next year’s assembly polls.

A senior party functionary of Uttar Pradesh told in ians that now all the doubts among cadres about the party’s face in next year’s assembly polls have been removed. “Recent moves of the party have shown that the central leadership have full faith in the Yogi Adityanath government and the BJP will contest the assembly polls under his leadership,” he said.

A party insider pointed out that removal of Santosh Gangwar from the union cabinet also cemented Adityanath’s position in the state even before the words of praise came from the Prime Minister and the party chief.

In May, then union labour minister Gangwar had written to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister pointing out mismanagement in handling of the second wave of Covid in his parliamentary constituency Bareilly. During a reshuffle in the union cabinet this month, Gangwar was dropped.

Recent thumping victory of the saffron party in zila panchayat and block head elections has also established the political skills of chief minister Adityanath. A senior party leader said, “Despite allegations by the opposition party of misuse of state machinery, one thing is clear that he (Adityanath) knows how to play the game. Results show that he knows all the tricks of politics.”

Words of Prime Minister and Nadda have given a boost to the Adityanath government which was facing criticism from the opposition and within the party over its handling of the second Covid wave.

A senior party functionary told IANS that back to back words of appreciation sent a strong message against the Adityanath detractors that they must get themselves ready to fight the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls under his leadership.

“Message is loud and clear that there is no change of guard in the state and Adityanath will be leading the elections under the leadership of Prime Minister and central leadership. He will be the face of the party in the state,” he said.

On July 14 during a visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi lauded the efforts of Adityanath’s government in managing the second wave of Covid. He said efforts made by the Uttar Pradesh government to tackle the coronavirus situation are commendable. The Prime Minister also appreciated the development oriented approach of the Adityanath government and ensuring rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.

On July 15, addressing Uttar Pradesh BJP state executive meet, Nadda lauded Adityanath’s style of governance and said he had turned Uttar Pradesh into a ‘leading state’. “While PM Modi had given a new direction to the country, Yogi Adityanath had put Uttar Pradesh on the path to development,” Nadda had said.

Amid speculation of his removal in June, union defence minister Rajnath Singh was the first one to appreciate the works of the Adityanath government.

A senior party leader said that Prime Minister Modi and Nadda have also silenced the chief minister’s criticism on the social engineering front by giving representation of different castes in organizational appointments made recently. “All the recent organizational appointments have taken all the factors of social engineering and given representation to all the caste and region,” he said.

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